Fight the New Drug

Pornography addiction affects millions of people worldwide. It's affected people I know and it's affected my loved ones. Many people don't understand just how addictive and destructive it can be. It ruins relationships and destroys families. This is an evil that must be understood in order to fully protect ourselves and our families because research has shown that it rewires the brain and affects us emotionally, socially, and psychologically.

Fight the New Drug is a non-profit organization that focuses on the fight against pornography. Many believe that pornography isn't harmful and in fact is actually good for you. Fight the New Drug has statistics that prove otherwise. The thing I LOVE about the statistics and information I read on fightthenewdrug.org is that EVERYTHING is cited! There is research to back up 100% of the statistics listed on the website. The studies have been done and the results are real. I invite you all to visit this website and learn for yourself about how harmful pornography really is.

Studies have been done to show that pornography rewires the brain just like a drug. Click here to find out how. According to fightthenewdrug.org, "The more a drug user hits up or a porn user looks at porn, the more those pathways get wired into the brain, making it easier and easier for the person to turn back to using, whether they want to or not." [1] The addiction literally becomes like a chain that traps the users in their addiction.

So what are the effects of pornography addiction? Marriages and families are torn apart, "...women are...depicted as sexual objects whose value is based solely on their physical appearance and sexual appeal" (Ward and Friedman 2006:134) [2] With marriages and families being torn apart society is being torn apart as well. The Family: A Proclamation to the World states: "Children are entitled...to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity." [3] This cannot and does not happen when both or one of the partners in the marriage are trapped in a pornography addiction. Pornography distorts true love. Studies show that those who view pornography regularly are less satisfied with sexual relations with their own partner (socialcostsofpornography.com). [4] How sad is it to think that people actually prefer images on a computer screen over a relationship with their own partner?! 

Resources for help

There is HOPE.

I have a dear friend who has overcome some very difficult challenges early on in her marriage.  As a young bride, she found that the man of her dreams suffered from a terrible addiction to pornography.  My friend was devastated.  However, over time, with guidance from church leaders, therapy and much reliance on the Lord and his atonement, her husband has overcome his addictions and learned to make his weakness his strength.  I am amazed as I watch this couple who really have it together.  The weakness that beset them early on in their marriage has certainly been overcome and where their relationship was fragile and could have been destroyed by this addiction, it is now one of those that only the rest of us can hope for.  They are strong and committed to their family. My friend’s husband puts his family first – always.  He is a strong leader in their home, and is very very careful about avoiding exposures in the media, online, and wherever he may be that would trigger the addiction he struggled with for so long.  Where before her husband was distracted -- he is now very purposeful in his parenting and in caring for his spouse.  Pornography can be overcome in marriage.  Too many divorces occur where with proper intervention the marriage could be saved.  If both partners want help, and there are many that do, there are resources to save them and save their marriage. 

Our Heavenly Fathers plan is that men and women work as equal partners to bring His children to this earth. Pornography is an evil that is set on destroying this plan. Now that we have the facts and understand how this addiction is affecting families, here are some resources that can be used for those in need of help:

overcomingpornography.org (a website created by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to help those in need of overcoming pornography)

addictionrecovery.lds.org (12 step program created by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints)

www.fightthenewdrug.org/get-help (A link to organizations that offer help for pornography addiction)

fortifyprogram.org (Fortify was founded by Fight the New Drug, specifically designed for teenagers with sexual addictions)

oxbowacademy.net (Oxbow Academy specializes in recovery for teenage boys ages 12-18)  

lifestarnetwork.com (Lifestar specializes in recovery for people of all ages with pornography addiction and sexually compulsive behaviors)

References

1. http://www.fightthenewdrug.org/get-the-facts#brain/porn-is-like-a-drug

2. Ward, L. Monique. 2006 "Using TV as a Guide: Associations Between Television Viewing and Adolescents Sexual Attitudes and Behavior." Journal of Research on Adolescence 16(1):133-156.

3. "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" paragraph 7. 

4. Bridges, Ana J. "Pornography's effects on interpersonal relationsips." :1-25. Retrieved from Socialcostsofpornography.com on Aug 28, 2014.